My name is Hannah Vallance and I am a Chartered Occupational Psychologist. I worked internally with Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service for 2 years designing and running their assessment centres and giving feedback on performance.
Since then I have worked for different Fire and Rescue Services from Dorset and Devon, through Bedfordshire and Luton and up to Cleveland and Highlands and Islands, delivering services such as PQA Interview Skills Training, marking ITOPs, assessing at ADCs, training and quality assuring ADC assessors, marking written exercises and application forms, and providing written and face to face feedback on performance.
Although the National ADC process is a fair and practical way of assessing individuals' potential to further develop, I have listened to personnel throughout the UK about how they feel that there is not enough support or guidance available to help them progress to the next stage of their career.
In response to this feedback, I have designed a range of packages to help people feel that they can adequately prepare for attending the ITOP and ADC, completing their application form or practicing for their interview. These services will cover all levels, from those of you wanting to take the first step and get into the Fire and Rescue Service, through Supervisory, Middle and up to Strategic Manager.
My aim is to allow individuals who really want to maximise their chances of success the opportunity to develop themselves prior to taking the assessment, and not having to wait to receive feedback to help them develop after the event.
Support available
- Practice your ITOP - have a go at a realistic practice exercise and receive detailed feedback on where you need to improve, and how effectively you are demonstrating the PQAs.
- Familiarise yourself with the ITOP - receive information on what the ITOP will look like, guidance documents on how to prepare and take a practice SJT
- Practice your Application form- submit your application form for a detailed critique of the how well you are presenting your evidence and how you can improve Prepare for your interview- receive Interview tips and feedback on the types of responses you are planning to present.
- Practice your ADC exercises - coming soon, on-line exercises to familiarise yourself with the ADC process.
- Seminars and coaching events - get together a group of colleagues and spend day with me familiarising yourself with the ADC process, gaining feedback on your PQA skills and identifying your development needs, so you can address them before your real assessment. Available on request.
My main priorities are:
- to increase familiarity with the processes through the provision of realistic practice exercises and guidance information for completing the assessments.
- to improve PQA skills through individually tailored feedback reports and action plans based on performance at the practice exercises.
From the perspective of the Fire and Rescue Service, these activities will raise standards. For the individual, this help will not only improve the skills relevant to further development, but also increase your chances of success. Passing your application form, interview, ITOP or ADC is not just about 'jumping through hoops'. These processes are in place to make sure that the Fire and Rescue Service is able to identify those of you with the greatest potential to make a difference and perform to the standards the Fire and Rescue Service requires. What I try to do with the feedback I give is to provide guidance not on what will 'get you through' the process, but to develop your skills, so that you are a suitable candidate to progress to the next level.